Electric switch control mechanism



April 5, 1949. w. A. WOLF ELECTRIC SWITCH CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1946 I u z'eutor w W A r 9 r M W Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,466,292 ELECTRIC SWITCH CONTROL MECHANISM Walter A. Wolf, Logansport, Ind.

Application November 5, 1946, Serial No. 707,775

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in control mechanism for switches, more particularly, for electric switches, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herein described, whereby such switches may be remotely controlled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch control mechanism which is simple in construction and operation, and which may be readily applied to switches of various sizes and types.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch control mechanism which will function for considerable periods of time without attention and which will readily lend itself to economical manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a switch control mechanism which, in effect, may be conveniently employed as a relay.

With the above more important objects in view, and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to that shown in Figure 1, but showing theinvention at a relatively different stage of operation, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Like characters of reference are used to desi nate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inclusively, the invention consists of a switch control mechanism designated generally by the reference character ill, the same embodying in its construction a supporting plate or bracket ll formed with a forwardly offset portion [2.

A suitable frame or cage [3 is secured to the rear surface of the bracket II by means of the screws H, the cage supporting a solenoid I5, as is best shown in Figure 2. i

The solenoid I5 is provided with a reciprocable core or plunger l6 which extends upwardly from the solenoid and is provided adjacent the upper end thereof with a laterally projecting actuating pin 17. A suitable compression spring I8 is interposed between the pin I1 and the adjacent side of the cage I3, whereby the plunger 16 is normally urged upwardly.

It should be stated at this point that apart from its reciprocating movement, the plunger I6 is also rotatable in the solenoid IS.

The free end portion of the pin I1 is of a somewhat reduced diameter and extends through a substantially heart-shaped recess l9 provided in the bracket portion l2. The purpose of this will be hereinafter more fully explained.

An actuating plate 20 is pivotally connected to the forward surface of the bracket portion I2 by means of a suitable pivot screw 2|, the plate 20 being conflgurated substantially as shown and being notched at one edge thereof to provide a pair of substantially semi-elliptical cam surfaces 22, 23.

It will be noted that the portion of the plate 20 intermediately of these cam surfaces terminates in a more or less pointed extremity 24, which is disposed centrally with respect to the pivot screw 2|. The remaining edge portion of the plate 28 is formed with a cam lobe 25, the function of which will be also hereinafter more fully described.

A suitable electric switch 26 is mounted: on the front side of the bracket I l by suitable screws 21, the switch being of conventional design and being actuated by a push pin 28. In other words, depression of the push pin closes the switch and the releasing of the pin returns the switch to its open position. The pin 28, in turn, is actuated by an arm 29, this being secured at one end to the switch 26 by means of a bolt or rivet 30, while its remaining end is provided with a yoke 3| carrying a rotatable cam follower 32.

It will be observed that the aforementioned plate 28 is also provided with a pair of stop pins 33, these projecting into the opening IS in the bracket portion 12.

Having thus described the construction of the invention, its method of operation will now be explained.

Assuming the device to be in the position illustrated in Figure 1, the follower 32 bears against the cam lobe 25 of the plate 20, and the arm 25 depresses the pin 28 so that the switch 26 is closed.

The solenoid i5 is, of course, connected by a suitable conductor to a convenient remote control and when the solenoid is energized, the plunger l6 together with the actuating pin I! will be drawn downwardly as indicated at 34, and

the actuating pin I! will be brought into engagement with the cam surface 22. As the downward movement of the pin l1 continues, the plate 20 will be rotated in the direction of the arrow 35, whereby the follower 322 will clear the lobe 25 and the pin 28 will be released so as to open the switch 26.

It will be noted that during this action, the pin I! will be forced to one side, namely, to the left side of Figure 1, this being facilitated by the rotation of the plunger IS in the solenoid IS. The downward movement of the pin I! will be arrested by the stop pin 33 adjacent to the cam surface 22, which will be brought in contact with the lower left marginal edge of the heart-shaped recess l9.

When the supply of current to the solenoid I5 is discontinued, the spring l8 will urge the plunger l6 and the associated pin ll upwardly to its original position, the contour of the recess I9 being such as to guide the pin to its normal, vertical alignment with the pivot screw 21.

In the meantime, the plate 20 will remain in the position illustrated in Figure 4 and when the solenoid I5 is again actuated, the pin I! will be brought into engagement with the cam surf-ace 23. This further action will return the plate 20 to the position shown in Figure 1 in a manner similar to that already described, and the cam lobe 25 will actuate the follower 32 and the arm 29 so as to close the switch 26 through the medium of the pin 28.

It will be observed that in the foregoing manner, the reciprocating movement of the pin I1 will impart an oscillatory motion to the plate 20, which in turn, will alternately press and release the switch pin 28. Accordingly, the actuation of the solenoid l5 will alternately open and close the switch 26.

Although the switch 26 as described is considered to be of the normally open type, a normally closed switch may, of course, be employed with equal effectiveness.

Referring now to the modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying Figure 5, the control mechanism 40 illustrated herein is similar to that already described, with exception that a mercury contact switch 41 is employed in place of the aforementioned switch 26 The switch 4| is attached by means of a suitable clamp 42 directly to the actuating plate 43, the latter, of course, corresponding to the plate 20.

When this embodiment of the invention is placed in use, the oscillation of the plate 43 will It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is considered unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An electrical switch control mechanism com. prising a cage, 9, solenoid mounted in said cage, a reciprocable spring urged core rotatably positioned in said solenoid, a laterally projecting pin carried by said core, a bracket carried by said cage, a switch mounted on said bracket, said switch having a push-button, a resilient arm mounted on said switch extending above said push-button, a follower carried by the free terminal of said arm, an actuating plate pivotally mounted on said bracket, said plate being notched to provide a pair of cam surfaces, said pin projecting through said recess, the edges of said recess guiding said pin into alternate engagement with said cam surfaces, a cam provided at one end of said plate for engagement with said cam follower, means for limiting the pivotal movement of said plate, and means for reciprocating said core.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said limiting means includes a pair of stop pins carried by said plate engaging said recess.

WALTER A. WOLF.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,966,285 Deans July 10, 1934 2,090,522 Sippel Aug. 17, 1937 2,181,829 Jeffrey Nov. 28, 1939 2,289,108 Eaton July 7, 1942 2,328,266 Durbin Aug. 31, 1943 2,331,997 Mensenkamp Oct. 19, 1943 2,413,130 Aitken Dec. 24, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 21,183 France Apr. 6, 1920 (2d addition to Patent 462,913 of Dec. 3, 1912) 761,170 France Jan. 3, 1934 

